Council Directive of 26 July 1971 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and of their trailers (71/320/EEC) (repealed)

[F1 1. DEFINITIONS U.K.

For the purpose of this Directive:

1.1. ‘ Type of vehicle with respect to the braking equipment ’ U.K.

means vehicles which do not differ significantly in such essential respects as:

1.1.1. In the case of motor vehicles U.K.

1.1.1.1. the vehicle category, as defined in Article 1 of this Directive U.K.

1.1.1.2. the maximum mass, as defined in point 1.14 U.K.

1.1.1.3. the distribution of mass among the axles U.K.

1.1.1.4. the maximum design speed U.K.

1.1.1.5. a different type of braking equipment with particular reference to the presence or otherwise of equipment for braking a trailer U.K.

1.1.1.6. the number and arrangement of the axles U.K.

1.1.1.7. the engine type U.K.

1.1.1.8. the number and ratios of gears U.K.

1.1.1.9. ratio(s) of rear drive axle(s) U.K.

1.1.1.10. the tyre dimensions U.K.

1.1.2. In the case of trailers U.K.

1.1.2.1. the vehicle category, as defined in Article 1 of this Directive U.K.

1.1.2.2. the maximum mass, as defined in point 1.14 U.K.

1.1.2.3. the distribution of mass among the axles U.K.

1.1.2.4. a different type of braking equipment U.K.

1.1.2.5. the number and arrangement of the axles U.K.

1.1.2.6. the tyre dimensions. U.K.

1.2. ‘ Braking system ’ U.K.

means the combination of parts whose function is progressively to reduce the speed of a moving vehicle or to bring it to a halt, or to keep it stationary if it has already halted. These functions are specified in point 2.1.2. The equipment shall consist of the brake control, the transmission and the brake proper.

1.3. ‘ Graduated braking ’ U.K.

means braking during which, within the normal range of operation of the equipment, during either the application or the releasing of the brakes,

• the driver can, at any time, increase or reduce the braking force through action of the control,

• the braking force acts in the same direction as the action on the control (monotonic function),

• it shall be easily possible to make a sufficiently fine adjustment to the braking force.

1.4. ‘ Control ’ U.K.

means the part actuated directly by the driver (or in the case of some trailers, by an assistant) to supply to the transmission the energy required for braking or controlling it. This energy may be the muscular energy of the driver, or energy from another source controlled by the driver, or in appropriate cases the kinetic energy of a trailer, or a combination of these various kinds of energy.

1.5. ‘ Transmission ’ U.K.

means the combination of components situated between the control and the brake and connecting the two operationally. The transmission may be mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, or mixed. Where the braking power is derived from or assisted by a source of energy independent of the driver but controlled by him, the reserve of energy in the device shall likewise be regarded as part of the transmission.

1.6. ‘ Brake ’ means the part in which the forces opposing the movement of the vehicle develop. It may be a friction brake (when the forces are generated by the friction between two parts of the vehicle moving relatively to one another); an electrical brake (when the forces are generated by electromagnetic action between two parts of the vehicle moving relatively to but not in contact with one another); a fluid brake (when the forces are generated by the action of a fluid situated between two parts of the vehicle moving relatively to one another); or an engine brake (when the forces are derived from a controlled increase in the braking action of the engine transmitted to the wheels). U.K.

1.7. ‘ Diffent types of braking equipment ’ U.K.

means equipment which differs in such essential respects as:

1.7.1. components having different characteristics U.K.

1.7.2. a component made of materials having different characteristics or a component different in shape or size U.K.

1.7.3. a different assembly of the components. U.K.

1.8. ‘ Braking system component ’ U.K.

means one of the individual parts which, when assembled, constitute the braking equipment.

1.9. ‘ Continuous braking ’ U.K.

means the braking of combinations of vehicles through an installation having the following characteristics:

1.9.1. a single control which the driver actuates progressively, by a single movement, from his driving seat U.K.

1.9.2. the energy used for braking the vehicles constituting the combination of vehicles is supplied from the same source (which may be the muscular energy of the driver) U.K.

1.9.3. the braking installation ensures simultaneous or suitably phased braking of each of the constituent vehicles of the combination, whatever their relative positions. U.K.

1.10. ‘ Semi-continuous braking ’ U.K.

means the braking of combinations of vehicles through an installation having the following characteristics:

1.10.1. a single control which the driver can actuate progressively, by a single movement, from his driving seat U.K.

1.10.2. the energy used for braking the vehicles constituting the combination of vehicles is supplied from two different sources (one of which may be the muscular energy of the driver) U.K.

1.10.3. the braking installation ensures simultaneous or suitably phased braking of each of the constituent vehicles of the combination, whatever their relative positions. U.K.

1.11. ‘ Automatic braking ’ U.K.

means braking of the trailer or trailers occurring automatically in the event of separation of components of the combination of coupled vehicles, including such separation through coupling breakage, without the effectiveness of the remainder of the combination being affected.

1.12. ‘ Inertia or “ overrun ” braking ’ U.K.

means braking by utilising the forces generated by the trailer's moving up on the towing vehicle.

1.13. ‘ Laden vehicle ’ U.K.

means, except where otherwise stated, a vehicle laden to its ‘ maximum mass ’ .

1.14. ‘ Maximum mass ’ U.K.

means the maximum mass stated by the vehicle manufacturer to be technically permissible (this mass may be higher than the ‘ permissible maximum mass ’ ).

1.14.1. ‘The distribution of mass among the axles U.K.

means the distribution of the effect of the gravity on the mass of the vehicle and/or its contents among the axles

1.14.2. ‘ Wheel/axle load ’ U.K.

means the vertical static reaction (force) of the road surface in the contact area on the wheel/wheels of the axle

1.14.3. ‘ Maximum stationary wheel/axle load ’ U.K.

means the stationary wheel/axle load achieved under the condition of the laden vehicle.

1.15. ‘ Hydraulic braking system with stored energy ’ U.K.

means a braking system where energy is supplied by a hydraulic fluid under pressure, stored in one or more accumulators fed from one or more pressure pumps each fitted with a means of limiting the pressure to a maximum value. This value shall be specified by the manufacturer.

1.16. ‘Category O ₃ and O ₄ trailer types’ U.K.

1.16. ‘ Semi-trailer ’ U.K.

means a towed vehicle in which the axle(s) is (are) positioned behind the centre of gravity of the vehicle (when uniformly loaded) and which is equipped with a connecting device permitting horizontal and vertical forces to be transmitted to the towing vehicle.

1.16.2. ‘ Full trailer ’ U.K.

means a towed vehicle having at least two axles, and equipped with a towing device which can move vertically (in relation to the trailer) and controls the direction of the front axle(s), but which transmits no significant static load to the towing vehicle.

1.16.3. ‘ Centre-axle trailer ’ U.K.

means a towed vehicle equipped with a towing device which cannot move vertically (in relation to the trailer), and in which the axle(s) is (are) positioned close to the centre of gravity of the vehicle (when uniformly loaded) such that only a small static vertical load, not exceeding 10 % of that corresponding to the maximum mass of the trailer or load of 1 000 daN (whichever is the lesser) is transmitted to the towing vehicle.

1.17. ‘ Retarder ’ (1) U.K.

means an additional braking system having the capability to provide and to maintain a braking effect over a long period of time without a significant reduction in performance. The term ‘ retarder ’ covers the complete system including the control device.

1.17.1. ‘ Independent retarder ’ U.K.

means a retarder whose control device is separate from that of the service and other braking systems

1.17.2. ‘ Integrated retarder ’ (2) U.K.

means a retarder whose control device is integrated with that of the service braking system in such a way that both retarder and service braking systems are applied simultaneously or suitably phased by operation of the combined control device.

1.17.3. ‘ Combined retarder ’ U.K.

means an integrated retarder which in addition has a cut-out device, which allows the combined control to apply the service braking system alone.

1.18. ‘ Inter-urban motor-coach ’ U.K.

means a vehicle designed and equipped for inter-urban transport, having no spaces specifically intended for standing passengers, but able to carry for short distances passengers standing in the gangway.

1.19. ‘ Long-distance touring motor-coach ’ U.K.

means a vehicle designed and equipped for long-distance journeys, arranged to ensure the comfort of its seated passengers and which does not carry standing passengers.

1.20. ‘ Anti-lock system ’ U.K.

See Annex X, point 2.1.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Directive 98/12/EC of 27 January 1998 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 71/320/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and their trailers (Text with EEA relevance).

(1)

[F1 Until uniform procedures have been agreed to calculate the effects of retarders on the provisions in the Appendix to point 1.1.4.2 of Annex II, this definition does not cover vehicles fitted with regenerative braking systems.

(2)

Until uniform procedures have been agreed to calculate the effects of retarders on the provisions in the Appendix to point 1.1.4.2 of Annex II, vehicles equipped with an integrated retarder must also be equipped with an anti-lock system, acting on at least the service brakes of the axle controlled by the retarder, and on the retarder, and complying with the requirements specified in Annex X.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Directive 98/12/EC of 27 January 1998 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 71/320/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and their trailers (Text with EEA relevance).